US consumer sentiment fell to 58.6 in August from 61.7—the first decline since April. The University of Michigan survey was conducted July 29–August 11, with tariff concerns again weighing on confidence. Full-year inflation expectations rose to 4.9%, while the 5–10-year forecast was 3.9%. Both were worse than economists' forecasts. Job concerns also increased: 62% of respondents predicted unemployment would rise. 58% planned to cut back on spending (cars, household goods, dining out), and durable goods purchasing conditions fell to their lowest in a year. Meanwhile, retail sales continued...
Asia-Pacific markets opened slightly higher Wednesday as investors brace for U.S. President Donald Trump to roll out fresh tariffs this week. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.06%, while the Topix declined 0.3%. South Korea's Kospi added 0.14% and the small-cap Kosdaq inched up 0.12%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.63% higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures last traded at 23,150, lower than the HSI's Tuesday close of 23,206.64. U.S. stock futures moved higher as Wall Street awaits the expected rollout of President Donald Trump's tariffs on Wednesday. Overnight in the U.S., the three...
Wall Street major averages closed a volatile session mixed on Tuesday, as investors awaited clarity from President Trump regarding his upcoming tariff policy. The S&P 500 rose by 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.9%, while the Dow Jones finished marginally in the red. Consumer discretionary stocks, including Tesla and Nike, led the day's gains. The market remained under pressure from weaker-than-expected economic data, including a disappointing manufacturing survey with price pressures at their highest since 2022 and job openings below forecasts. The White House confirmed that reciprocal...
European markets rebounded on Tuesday, with the Stoxx 50 and Stoxx 600 rising over 1%, recovering from a four-session losing streak. This comes after both indexes fell about 1.5% the previous day to two-month lows, as investors braced for President Trump's new trade tariffs set to take effect on Wednesday. Uncertainty remains over the scope of the tariffs, with reports suggesting a 20% levy on most U.S. imports. Meanwhile, Eurozone inflation cooled to 2.2% in March, in line with expectations. In corporate news, Thyssenkrupp surged over 7% after analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux upgraded the...
U.S. stocks fell Tuesday, as the market awaited clarity from President Donald Trump regarding his tariff policy rollout. Tuesday also marks the beginning of the second-quarter after a bumpy first quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 238 points, or 0.6%. The S&P 500 shed 0.4%, and the Nasdaq Composite slid 0.3%. Shares of Alphabet and Apple lost more than 1% each. Tesla, meanwhile, climbed more than 2%. The White House on Wednesday is expected to unveil reciprocal tariffs on goods from virtually all countries. Investors had been hoping for a narrow approach toward...
The Hang Seng rose by 87 points, or 0.4%, to close at 23,207 on Tuesday, following a weak session the day before, as it moved away from a four-week low, lifted by expansion in the Chinese manufacturing sector. A private survey showed that factory activity in the mainland grew the most in four months, following Monday's official data that revealed the manufacturing sector expanded at the fastest pace in a year. However, capping the gains, traders anticipated the unveiling of Trump's tariffs on Wednesday. Tech, commercial services, energy minerals, and miscellaneous sectors mainly drove the...
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
It...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
President Donald Trump said he would set levies on semiconductors in the coming two weeks, the latest indication he's readying a substantial expansion of his tariff regime.
"I'll be...